Gillim Wins Thriller

Larry Lawrence | July 14, 2013

Photography by Andrea Wilson

Update: Travis Wyman’s second place reinstated. After AMA Pro Racing officials reviewed video and interviewed corner workers the penalty on Travis Wyman in Sunday’s SuperSport was dropped. He is now credited with second place.

It was a great battle for the lead that came down to a series of exciting last-lap passes. Too bad it didn’t really count. Hayden Gillim and Travis Wyman had a riveting last lap duel, with both making bold passes. The only problem was Wyman had passed on a waving yellow early in the race and was assessed a 20-second penalty, so Gillim didn’t need to perform the heroics on the final lap, but it made for a great show nevertheless.

Saturday’s race winner Tomas Puerta led early and it looked to be a great battle between him and Gillim. A red flag came out on lap four when Ryan Haddock crashed in turn four and the medical crew had to get to him.

On the restart it was Puerta again battling for the lead when a shifter broke on his RoadRace Factory Yamaha and he was forced to retire.

That left Gillim and Wyman battling for the lead the rest of the way. On the final lap Wyman took the lead braking off the back straight going into six, but immediately Gillim attacked back on his Team 95 Yamaha and stuffed Wyman in the esses to take back over. Gillim then managed to protect his lead to the flag, Wyman a close second on the track, but actually sixth on the timing charts.

It marked Gillim’s first win of the season and his first since New Orleans last year.

“I got a bad start and was able to be aggressive and get back up there,” Gillim said of the restart. “I put my head down and pushed, but these guys were running a quick pace too and they cameback and caught up to me and Travis got in front of me. I kind of wore myself out pushing so hard, so I had to slow down a bit and stay behind him until I got my strength back. The last couple of laps we were really going at it. I didn’t even know he had the penalty, so I was still racing for the win. It was fun. It was a really good race.”

Miles Thornton was second on the CTR Racing Yamaha, 2.471 seconds back from Gillim.

The battle for the final podium was decided with two laps to go when Corey Alexander stuffed Stefano Mesa in the back section of the track, forcing Mesa almost into the grass. That battle had serious championship implications since they are the two leaders of the Supersport East standings. With Gillim winning he moved to second in the standings and the series has become a three rider battle for the championship.

Nick McFadden rounded out the top five.

Alexander has a 12 point lead on Gillim and Mesa is just 15 points back in third with two races in New Jersey left.

Supersport Results from Mid-Ohio – Sunday, July 14, 2013

Wyman reinstated to second.

1.            Hayden Gillim (Yam)
2.            Miles Thornton (Yam)
3.            Corey Alexander (Suz)
4.            Stefan Mesa (Yam)
5.            Nick McFadden (Suz)
6.            Travis Wyman (Suz)
7.            Conner Blevins (Kaw)
8.            Devon McDonough (Yam)
9.            Kaleb De Keyrel (Yam)
10.          Brandon Cleland (Tri)

 

Larry Lawrence | Archives Editor

In addition to writing our Archives section on a weekly basis, Lawrence is another who is capable of covering any event we throw his way.